With the rise of the ill-conceived open office plan, many workplace meetings don't take place in traditional conference rooms with long tables and large monitors. Smaller "huddle rooms" are the venues for many meetings and Logitech's new MeetUp ($899) is designed for these spaces, with a wider-than-usual-angle 4K camera and speaker and mics suited to smaller rooms.

Hardware Specs

The MeetUp is an attractive, modern, professional-looking camera with a black, rounded case that can complement any décor. The 4.1-by-15.75-by-3.35-inch (HWD) MeetUp houses a 4K (up to 3,840 by 2,160 pixels at 30fps) camera with a 120-degree field of view that features pan-tilt-zoom functionality. There are three beam-forming microphones with a sensitivity of -27dB and frequency response of 90Hz to 16kHz. The speaker is acoustically suspended and has the following specifications:

You also get a nifty remote that's square, with a non-slippery base, and measures 0.375 by 3.25 by 3.25 inches. The remote uses RF, so you don't have to worry about aiming it at a receiver on the main unit or about something or someone blocking it; another thoughtful touch for use in cramped spaces. One potential issue, though: There are no on-device controls, so if you do lose the remote, forget panning or zooming.

You also get a 16-foot USB cable, power supply, wall mount hardware, and user documentation. The system is certified for use with Skype for Business and Cisco Jabber and offers enhanced integration with BlueJeans, Broadsoft, LifeSize Cloud, Vidyo, and Zoom. That support includes the ability for remote participants to control the camera.

Setting Up the MeetUp

You start by plugging the MeetUp into a power outlet, but before you can do that, you have to insert one of the many international AC plugs that suits your locale. When you do plug it in, it responds with a cute plunky musical sound.

You next connect the USB cable to the computer. The device uses USB-C, so it's not proprietary, and you won't have trouble getting a replacement if you misplace it. A nice Velcro belt holds the unused portion of the 16-foot cable in place. One thing to note about the cable, however, is that it's not USB 3.0, so it won't support the camera's full 4K resolution. That capability is more about future-proofing, however, since most videoconferencing services don't support 4K yet.

After connecting the PC to a display or a television, the only thing to do is to set up your videoconferencing software to work with the video and audio of the MeetUp. I tested the camera with Skype, and had no issues. At the time of testing, Logitech didn't provide software for the MeetUp the way it does for its Brio 4K webcam, which is unfortunate if you want to adjust settings like focus, contrast, or brightness. The company says an app similar to the Brio software will be available in the future.

The included remote control should be paired at the factory, but if not you can pair it manually. Note that it won't work without inserting the included batteries. You may also want to pair a Bluetooth phone if you use that for calls.

A final option is to mount the unit on your wall or attach it to a TV. A wall mount is included, but a TV mount is an extra-cost option for $79. Note that, unlike the Logitech Connect, the unit is intended to stay in one place. The easy-to-carry ConferenceCam Connect is better suited for those who need to frequently change meeting locations.

Using the MeetUp

The view angle is very wide, which, in testing, let our remote viewers see everyone in the room, something the Logitech ConferenceCam Connect couldn't do. I could see a chair at the side of the room and its occupant that I'd never been able to see with other cameras.

The microphone is quite good. In a previous meeting with the Connect, a meeting member was inaudible to those online when he spoke in a low voice facing sideways. But with the MeetUp, the same person was audible to all participants. And for those in the room, the speakers produce loud, clear sound.

While it's true that the viewing angle is wider and better suited to our small meeting room, I really appreciate the panning and zooming capability, which lets you set the image to match the room perfectly. You can do this with the remote control, and motion is smooth. The remote also lets you hang up a conference call and mute the microphone, both handy capabilities.

One drawback, however, is digital zoom. That means that if you zoom all the way in, the image becomes fuzzy, as shown in the image above. If you need crisp closeups, I recommend the AVer VC520 Video Conference Camera System or the Logitech Group, both of which support optical zoom.

Perfect for Tight Meetings

If your workgroup needs to meet with remote colleagues in a cramped space regularly, the Logitech MeetUp is the perfect conferencing device. It suits our small weekly team meetings to a tee, with terrific mic and speaker audio, and a super-wide viewing angle. Its claim of 4K is less important than the aforementioned benefits, it's a bit pricey, and some control software, while not really necessary, would be a welcome addition. Still, the MeetUp earns our Editors' Choice.

About the Author

Michael Muchmore is PC Magazine’s lead analyst for software and Web applications. A native New Yorker, he has at various times headed up PC Magazine’s coverage of Web development, enterprise software, and display technologies. Michael cowrote one of the first overviews of Web Services (pretty much the progenitor of Web 2.0) for a general audience. Before that he worked on PC Magazine’s Solutions section, which in those days covered programming techniques as well as tips on using popular office software. Most recently he covered Web 2.0 and other software for ExtremeTech.com.

Michael got his start in computing as a lad, when he wrote a BASIC program for a Radio Shack ... See Full Bio